A former prison officer has been charged with misconduct in public office after allegedly receiving £3,350 from the Sun for information about a high-profile prisoner.

The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) said on Tuesday that Richard Trunkfield, an ex-prison support officer at HMP Woodhill in Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire, should face trial over the allegation.

He becomes the 10th person charged in connection with Scotland Yard's Operation Elveden inquiry into inappropriate payments from journalists to police and public officials.

The CPS said Trunkfield is alleged to have been paid £3,350 between 2 March 2010 and 30 April 2010 after he leaked details to the Sun about a high-profile inmate.

Alison Levitt QC, the principal legal adviser to the director of public prosecutions, said: "All of these matters were considered carefully in accordance with the DPP's guidelines on the public interest in cases affecting the media. These guidelines require prosecutors to consider whether the public interest served by the conduct in question outweighs the overall criminality before bringing criminal proceedings.

"Accordingly, we have authorised the institution of proceedings and Mr Trunkfield will appear before Westminster magistrates' court on a date to be determined.

"May I remind all concerned that proceedings for a criminal offence involving Mr Trunkfield will now be commenced and that he has a right to a fair trial. It is very important that nothing is said, or reported, which could prejudice that trial. For these reasons it would be inappropriate for me to comment further."

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